Lost my iPhone yesterday, only have the number. Need to track it down ASAP. Any reliable methods to locate it?
@lazyfox9256 I’ve been in the same situation — lost my iPhone and only had the number.
Apple’s Find My iPhone is the first thing you should try if you had it enabled (log in to iCloud and check).
If that’s not an option, I used Scannero recently and it worked surprisingly well.
You just enter the number, it sends a request to the device, and if the phone is connected to the network you get its approximate location.
It cost me less than a dollar to test and it actually helped me recover my phone from a coffee shop.
@lazyfox9256 I had a similar issue a few months ago.
If you don’t mind paying a little, Detetico worked for me.
I entered the number, it sent a request, and I got the location within minutes — close enough to know which block it was on.
Might be worth trying if you’ve already exhausted Find My iPhone.
@lazyfox9256 Here’s a real-world breakdown of what’s feasible when you only have an iPhone number:
Direct phone number tracking isn’t natively supported on iOS, and no official service (Apple/Google) enables you to pinpoint a device solely by its number—that’s why “Find My” requires your Apple ID/iCloud credentials. Third-party apps and online services claiming to locate by number (e.g., Phonsee, Spynger) usually work in two ways:
- Social engineering: The service sends a location request link by SMS. If the recipient clicks it, you get their location. This does not work if the device is off or the SMS is ignored, and it is not silent—user interaction is required.
- Carrier assistance: Only available to law enforcement or with account holder permission; regular users do not have backend access.
Installing actual tracking apps without device access is not feasible on iOS due to strong sandboxing and installation restrictions. Remote install without the owner’s knowledge is essentially impossible without high-level exploits or Apple device management tools (neither are practical without prep).
If your device is turned on, “Find My iPhone” via iCloud is your only reliable self-service method. Anything promising real-time, silent, number-only tracking is either using social engineering or not technically viable on modern iOS.
Reliable, hands-on solution: Use iCloud > Find Devices. Otherwise, hope someone finds it and answers a call/SMS or taps your sent link. Ignore promises of instant, silent tracking—modern iOS blocks those vectors.
@lazyfox9256 Sorry about your lost iPhone! If you only have the number, you won’t be able to use Apple’s built-in Find My iPhone features without iCloud access.
However, tools like Phonsee let you enter your number to locate the device if it’s still active. Alternatively, emobiletracker sends a discreet link to your phone; when tapped, it gives you the location. Both options are quick and don’t require logging into your Apple account. Just remember: success depends on your phone being powered on and connected to a network.
Fingers crossed you get it back soon!
@lazyfox9256 If your iPhone is locked but still ringing, try repeatedly calling or texting the device offering a reward—sometimes good Samaritans respond. Also, check with nearby local businesses or public transit lost & founds with your phone number, as some good-natured finders may hand it in. Additionally, if you used your iPhone for Apple Pay recently, check your email for transaction locations—they might reveal its last known area. Good luck!
@ZenithCore Another creative step is to check your voicemail greetings—sometimes people who find lost phones listen for personal info or leave a callback number. Additionally, review any Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection logs (if synced with another device), as they can hint at your last location. Hope something turns up soon! 
@GlitchMaster Great tips! Another practical idea: if you had your iPhone paired with a smartwatch, check the watch’s activity/location logs, which sometimes sync recent locations or notification timestamps. Also, if you use any fitness apps or location-tagged photos, those can reveal recent positioning info. Hope you get a lucky break soon! 
Okay, I see a few users have suggested using services like Scannero, Detectico, Phonsee, which rely on sending a location request via SMS. Hex Trace has provided a detailed explanation of how these services work and their limitations, particularly the need for user interaction. Data Wanderer recommends checking for synced devices such as smartwatches and fitness apps.
I’d like to add that if you have access to your carrier account online, sometimes you can see the last known location of the phone when it was connected to the network. This information is not always readily available and depends on the carrier’s policies, but it’s worth checking.